Advent in Quarantine

I have been reading through the New Testament in these final 3 months of 2020. I am challenged in Hebrews to "Consider Jesus." I want to stop, ponder and think deeply about Jesus. I've begun a list of all Hebrews shows about Jesus.  And so it is with  a heart primed to contemplate Jesus we enter this Advent season.

Quarantine Photo of the Day 

Stacia and I plan to work through this little book for the next four weeks. Asheritah's heart is to focus on facets of Jesus as expressed in his names...creating, and enhancing, a heart to worship Jesus.  It's almost like "someone" orchestrated this focus for us. 

 As we're all currently home, it was fitting for us to embark on the journey as a family. This first night we contemplated soul amnesia - our tendency to forget the awe of Jesus. We talked about God always having a plan, how that looks different than we expect but we can confidently rest in His plan. We talked about the patience of God and how no detail escapes His notice. 

We sang Silent Night together - we may need to find music to support our voices in the future. ::snort:: 

I am thankful on this slow, cooped-up, day  quarantine plays a role in family's  celebration of Advent 2020. It is good to slow down. It is good to be bored. In the silence, we think, we listen, we are renewed and restored. Covid certainly cannot stop a heart from Celebrating Christmas. 

This sweet family has recovered from Covid. They know the quarantine gig...Krista has diligently checked to see if we need anything from Walmart, Fred Myers - wherever she is going. Today, they went to our church for service and stopped by afterwards with chocolate oranges and kale. Possibly even more important to me, Krista gave me my first "other than Michael" hug in months! She no longer has to worry about Covid. I look forward to that freedom. 

I also look forward to seeing this snuggable, kissable face in person before the end of December. The girls are faithfully sending  us photos of the grandblessings. Here is Danny - look at how he's grown - I am thinking he's 2 1/2 weeks old here. 

Daniel Michael - CoRielle's 

Look what showed up in our mailbox. It did my heart GOOD and my eyes leak a bit. Nozomi means hope in Japanese.  Jewelry is made from broken pieces of pottery which washed up after the Quake Tsunami of 2011.  

I meant to pick up a piece before we left Japan - and never did.  I've since had two of "my girls" (Air Force spouses from women's ministries) be assigned to Japan. Both have sent me lovely necklaces...beauty in brokenness....such a profound truth. I treasure these pieces, for the meaning, the memories and the lovely relationships represented by the gifts.  

As I scan over the entry before posting - it hits me once again. It's always the people. Always. 

In Covid news: Michael took Alex to retest. Grandpa stayed in bed most the day and is very confused when he is awake.  His oxygen stays at 98 - 99.  We're all incredibly tired and enjoying our Marvel Marathon - not sure we'll finish it before our release. I can still not taste - though my sense of smell is returning and my oxygen is hovering between 93 - 95.  Other symptoms have abated. Krista's oxygen is 93-94. 

Quarantine Visitors

We're still here. Most still feel pretty worn out.  Dad is sleeping - a lot - and I get it because all I want to to do is sleep.  

He commented, "And NOW I get a cold on top of COVID 19." We explained this WAS still all a part of Covid. 

The doorbell rang in the early afternoon. I could tell how stir crazy folks are getting because everyone ran to the door - except Grandpa who was sleeping. We had a nice visit from the driveway/porch. Cy, Carrie and Olivia went ice fishing this morning. Olivia caught her first fish. I think Michael is jealous. 

Quarantine Photo of the Day 

Look what they brought! There is great rejoicing in our home. These coupled with the ones Danny and Krista picked up will make enough for one in every Christmas stocking. LOL Those Happy Hippos are awfully cute. 

They went on to visit BreZaak. Josiah sent the following photo. We are looking forward to when WE will get to see Danny and JoJo face to face. Meanwhile Josiah and Jamin are working towards favored uncle status with the new crop of nephews. 

Josiah Michal & Josiah Eric Grant

We've begun a Marvel Movie Marathon. The goal is to watch them all in a chronological order. I believe this is a worthy goal. I missed the first day and so I am still clueless. ::snort:: 

Today, NOLAN received a call from the state contact nurse. ALEX (who tested first) hasn't, neither has Dad. It was pretty silly as we're so far into the quarantine and illness. She was upset we aren't all staying in our own little rooms. I'm betting she hasn't caught it yet...because in a home with everyone exhibiting symptoms, it makes NO SENSE to stay isolated in your own room....we quit that when Grandpa got sick. That was the ONLY reason that practice made sense to us.  The way the state's rules for those who don't test positive work it seems easiest to catch it at once and be done with it, rather than draw it out longer and longer.  They wanted to be sure we had groceries. 

She admitted there are quite a few people who simply won't test positive. They have symptoms, have been exposed, and still test negative. This confirms our thoughts on Krista specifically, and the test generally. 

Final One to Succumb

Welp...

I'm thankful most all are feeling better before I was laid low. All the A, C, D3, Zinc, sanitizer, soap, and immunity tea didn't keep me from my very own date with Covid. 

I woke up with a fever. I am typically 97.4...I was 100.5. Breathing is a bit difficult, I have a cough and headache and spent most the day sleeping. On the positive side the GI symptoms subsided. 

I'm not sure how everyone else spent the day. I went to bed when Michael was up....Grandpa is doing well. He is tired, but having no respiratory distress. 

I know several movies were watched....

The highlight of the day was a text from Danny and Krista G. They were heading to Walmart and picked up CHOCOLATE ORANGES for us. A silly thing, but I can rest easier knowing this year's oranges have been purchased.  

We're guessing I'm the final one to succumb to Covid. Stacia had that bad cold and we suspect that was this; she fought it off like a rock star. She woke up today and said, "I feel like eating for the first time in a long time." 

Much to be Thankful For

Woot! We got to visit - Michael, I, 9 Gherkins and their families, and Dad. We all got to see the two new grandboys....and we were just a tad bit jealous JAMIN is in that top corner holding Danny. 

Quarantine photo of the day 

Krista has promoted to Chaplain, Captain. We had planned to have a pinning ceremony, but Covid... The paperwork has all been submitted and changed on the military side. She asked if we could do the ceremony with family....which we did. 

We drew names for our Christmas Gift exchange - which we hold on New Year's Eve. It's good to have this habit as Anchorage is locked down until Jan 1st, and we can't get out to go shopping. ::snort:: 

 We had a scaled down Thanksgiving Dinner....it was plenty of food given the states of our appetites. 

Dad prayed and we were all thankful he was here! 

2020 is getting a bad rap - really. I KNOW 2020 has been hard - but y'all, as we sat around the table and discussed what we are thankful for this year we realized...it has not been our most challenging year. We did not live through a 9. earthquake, tsunami, or days not knowing if the young ones and Mike we're alive, we haven't lost any family members this year....and 2020 has brought us MANY blessings. 

• Dad is home and improving all the time
• We've had two new grandsons
• Krista is making strides in her military ministry
• Several are in new relationships
• Friendships
• Covid isn't affecting us as severely as it could 
• March's lock down led to a slower pace, much margin and that's good. 
• More time for deepening relationships with Jesus and family.
• God is still God and he still SITS on His throne!  
• and there was much more....

The guys cleaned up after dinner. I may have fallen asleep. We watched Wizard of Oz (Michael's childhood tradition), I may have fallen asleep. 

We broke out the chocolate orange...and I am going to try to get enough for stockings via click list....I find that sometimes "they" don't give me all I ask for, though they DO have it inside. Now that we are quarantined we can't run in and check. ::snort:: 

To be sure - we aren't quite up to par. We continue to fall asleep - a lot. 

Poor, dying soul....

I thought I may be having hot flashes throughout the day. I finally said, "I feel so hot...like I need to rip my clothes off."  It turns out Krista and Nolan are feeling the same. LOL I made many trips out into the snow to cool off. 

It also turns out Nolan and I are having trouble catching deep breaths. 

We played a few games of Farkle after the movie. Nolan, Krista and I continued working on the names on our Thanksgiving tablecloth. 

Krista came up with a fun design 2020 since everyone wasn't here to sign the cloth....

It doesn't show up well - but it's a screen with our small screens and names inside. After we are done embroidering we plan to wash the cloth and take it to have at LEAST Danny and Jo-Jo put their handprints on the cloth. It would be too sad for them not to leave a mark their first year. 

All in all it was a relaxing, slow, blessed day. We are thankful. 

The girls and I are a bit sad not to run out to the local Black Friday sales and breakfast...I tend to get lots of things for the grands on these sales....the budget stretches further. They probably won't even care if they don't get as many gifts this year. HOWEVER, WE are going to miss our matching, stylish, holiday pj's this year...click list won't let me add them. ::snort:: 

When a Cheeseball Leads One Down Memory Lane (Terri's Cheeseball)

 

This holiday was set to be a bit different from the start. Instead of turkey, I bought a ham. Ham is the traditional choice of Cory's family and we thought it would be fun to do something different. I no longer value different. ::snort:: 

Tuesday night Stacia commented I would usually be cooking for 3 days before Thanksgiving - this was different. 

Tuesday night Michael made an off-hand comment that "we need to plan a Thanksgiving meal." 

Obviously, everyone else was putting more thought into a Thanksgiving meal than *I* have been giving it...this too is different.  I have been making pots of homemade chicken noodle soup. I have no taste and very little smell, which is a blessing in my role as chief caregiver in a Covid house. ::snort:: 

It's funny how a recipe can take you back in time. 

Terri S. shared her secret recipe for cheeseball with me over 30 years ago. It's one of the favorite recipes which has not made it to the blog, I promised all those decades ago in Hardin, MT not to share it. 

I gathered the ingredients and began to assemble a cheeseball. There are some in our home who will feel more festive just  seeing the cheeseball - even if they don't want to eat it. 

I was instantly back at our first pastoring experience...remembering fondly youth in our youth and elderly who taught us so very much,  the people....always the wonderful people and the many lessons we learned. Lessons which led to ginormous spiritual growth and have held us well in the past 30 years of ministry. 

I remembered Terry, Terri, Michael, Danny and Kevin and said a quick prayer for them. I remembered Sam, Cara and crew and said a prayer for Cara....I remembered Sam, Ev and kids; Bob, Betty and family, Violet and Caroline, Mary and her Mom, the Whitemans, the Moullets, the Ebens,  the Heiberts, the Gregories, Miriam the librarian, the Dales, the Frieds, the Kirshenmans, the Lachenmeirs, the Enzmingers, Sandra and Shelly, Grams and Uncle Bill, Dick and Judy and so many more...always the people. What a gracious God we serve, One who brings people and situations in and out of our lives to shape us into His image. 

I remembered the years we made 100's of cheeseballs to give away at Christmas. I remembered the open houses and family celebrations this recipe helped us celebrate in Montana, Texas, Oregon, Japan, California and Alaska...and I thanked God for faithfully directing our steps all these many years. 

Fortified with the memories, I made yet another one of Terri's Cheeseballs....and added, the Thanksgiving we were all quarantined with active Covid, to the list of cheeseball memories. 

I also decided I was not up to a cooking a full Thanksgiving meal this year. I called everyone together and we talked about the essentials everyone would like to "make it Thanksgiving." 

Michael - rolls (rising as I type this Thanksgiving morn)
Grandpa and Alex - potatoes (Scalloped ready to go)
Krista - Green Bean Casserole (She assembled it for a class video she made)
Nolan and Stacia - Stuffing! 

I tried to explain it's hard to have stuffing without a BIRD to stuff and thus stuffing goes with Turkey and Scalloped Potatoes with Ham.  They weren't having it....and so I will make stuffing - without the turkey parts I usually throw in; but with apples and pecans and homemade broth. 

Not a single dessert was listed. In year's past I've made 9 pies so everyone could have their favorite...but with no guests coming this year, and several of us barely eating, it was decided we'll spread Thanksgiving Desserts through the weeks to come. 

DEAD SOUL or a Covid Update

That girl there. She's always had a way with words, and always been the extroverted Gherkin in the midst of introverts. 

Today, as we assembled to discuss what to cook for a Quarantined Thanksgiving and we checked in on everyone's symptoms, she burst out, "MY SOUL IS DEAD. I am living ALONE when I grow up. " 

Yikes, this sounds rather drastic. It appears her soul is dying as she is cut off from work, church, young nephews....and she has determined if she lives alone she will never again have to deal with others bringing a pandemic into her living space. 

Further discussion led to the understanding that what we are calling, "overwhelming exhaustion," she is labeling "dead soul." 

Covid - hmm....what to say. Is it as bad as we hear? Yes and no. Is it just like the flu - that's NOT been our experience. 

Alex seems to be consistently feeling well. 

Krista still deals with pretty strong symptoms that come and go. They both got sick on the 10th/11th. Alex tested positive on Nov 18th. They were SICK, had high fevers, the respiratory and the GI symptoms...

Michael was laid LOW for 4 days....could NOT get up, dizzy and sore throat, fever. We aren't sure if the dizziness is Parkinsons or Covid. He is up and about and feels pretty good....but there are times he simply needs to sit or lay down...and does. 

Nolan - all the symptoms of Alex and Krista...still lingering. He also lost his taste and smell. His fever is gone, but he is certainly not feeling good. 

I began by feeling "off" and losing my sense of taste and smell. That was all for the first few days. Today, I'm tired, nauseated, have a splitting headache and GI issues. I haven't had an official "fever" - but I tend to run 97.2 and I'm at 98.8. Others are feeling better - so I spent several hours sleeping and more hours just lying on the couch today. Krista made dinner - which was a very good thing. 

Stacia is "soul dead" and had what appeared to be a bad cold. 

This is what I'm leading up too - we've not experienced the extreme hype of Covid. We've not been hospitalized, but we've experienced much more than the annual flu. That which we feared in the spring - Grandpa catching Covid - is confirmed to be upon us.  

Grandpa has tested positive. Of the 5 who have tested (all with symptoms) 3 got positive results and 2 got negative results. We believe false negatives as they've had the same symptoms. We are starting to believe some folks have something in their bodies which simply won't test positive....because KRISTA is the one who brought this to us from her classroom and she was SICK. She is considering an anti-body test when everyone is well so she can go back to work and not have to quarantine an additional 2 weeks. 

Grandpa was SICK Friday - Sunday. Horrible cramps, retching for days, diarreah...we are thanking God it is NOT respiratory and his oxygen levels have stayed at 95 or above. He hasn't developed a fever. He is very tired....but weathering it well...and he is 79 3/4 years old with many co-morbidities. We appreciate your continued prayers for him as he weathers this challenge. 

I would NOT say I'm no longer worried about Grandpa and Covid, but I'm fully at peace, knowing God numbers our days...as Dad says, "I'm tougher than people think." 

In our home - Alex and Krista seem to have had the most severe symptoms, but all of us have been miserable in one way or another. 

The way the school district, and our state, guidelines are written those of us who have NOT TESTED positive will be quarantined 2 weeks past point where the last one who DID test positive tests negative.  And yet the docs seem o.k. booking Dad's appointments 2 weeks past the last positive result. I have given up figuring out how long we are supposed to stay home. Krista says Dec 13th now. Stacia and I are not testing. We aren't being required, or asked, to do so. We figure at least one of us would test negative anyway and we're ALREADY QUARANTINED. 

We are thankful we have not had terrible symptoms. We are also more determined than ever to social distance, wear our masks and do all we can to make sure no one else catches this from us...because it really isn't a lark. Even the isolation for weeks on end could be devastating in a large family where employment is still needed. 

Before anyone says "I told you so," we HAVE worn our masks, we have limited our outings, we have social distanced, Dad and I haven't been out except to see a dentist since he came home on Oct 8th...but unless everyone in your circle stays home, you could do everything "right" and still catch this thing.  We DO have 4 in our home with jobs.  We have had 8 health professionals in our home each week since October. We are hearing  the soonest anyone has been re-infected is 6 - 8 months....we are hoping for immunity and the ability to get out a bit in the upcoming winter months. 

There you go - an update and covid thoughts for the day. 

The Holiday is Saved

 

Michael hides goodies. 

Today, I asked Nolan to reach into the higher cupboard for the cheeseball plate...and he found a CHOCOLATE ORANGE! 

There was great rejoicing in the home.  Several have been worrying chocolate oranges will sell out before we are let loose on society again. (Which reminds me I better try to click list a ton if I want to put them in Christmas stockings.....)

Evidently, we can survive a covid outbreak in with flying colors but a holiday season without  chocolate oranges is unthinkable. 

We've scheduled a Gherkin Thanksgiving Zoom for tomorrow. Cory asked if we would be sharing virtual food. ::snort:: 

We may let the elder Gherkins watch us eat our chocolate orange.